Request for Proposals: Community Engagement Planning Grants

Through this Request for Proposals (“RFP”), the Massachusetts Clean Energy Technology Center (“MassCEC”) is offering Community Engagement Planning Grants.  The Community Engagement Planning Grants will provide direct support to community-based organizations, municipalities, or other entities that represent the community interest (“Communities”) to support meaningful community input in the development and deployment of solar energy projects owned by electric and gas distribution companies (“EDCs”).

These projects, enabled by Section 77 of An Act Creating A Next-Generation Roadmap For Massachusetts Climate Policy, 2021 Mass. Acts 8 (the “Act”) (“Section 77 Projects”), are intended to improve community climate adaptation and resiliency and preferentially sited in municipalities with Environmental Justice populations. Section 77 Projects must be sited on land owned by the EDCs, proposed with an affirmation of support from the municipality, and approved by the Department of Utilities (“DPU”). This RFP will support Communities in collaboration with National Grid and Eversource initiatives related to Section 77 Projects.